Thomas Couch

Tom was born Nov. 18, 1933, in Odessa, NY, the son of William Leslie and Christine Ely Couch. He spent his youth in Odessa and graduated from Odessa Central School in 1952. He enjoyed a high school experience of many sports, but excelled in track and the high jump. Shortly thereafter, he joined the U.S. Army and spent the next two years in Germany, being discharged in 1955 with the rank of Corporal. For a short period of time, he joined with his uncle, Jim Ely, at the Crane & Hoist Corp. in Montour Falls, NY, where he remained until 1959. He took a job offer in Vestal, NY, with Modern Design Corp. In the meantime, he was married in 1957 to his wife, the former Patricia Clayson. In 1958, their first son, Jeffery, was born. They resided in Binghamton, NY, and his drafting jobs were for GE, IBM, and Link Aviation, all while employed by Modern Design. It was during the Space Race, and he always recalled his experience working on the “LEM.”

As programs with NASA began to shrink, there were fewer opportunities in his field. In 1962 the family, now having three sons, moved to Wyalusing. Tom commuted to the Triple Cities for a time. He soon decided to look for employment nearer home and secured a position with Taylor Beef, working in accounting. He also worked a short time with Arrow United Industries and finally found a drafting position with Electro- Mechanical in Sayre, where he remained for a number of years. Since they were a company working with military contracts, when the economy slowed, the company moved out. In the late 70s, he took an accounting job with Stroud’s in Wysox, where he remained until the late 80s near the end of its operation. Thereafter, Tom found work locally with the Planing Mill in Wyalusing and later with the Wyalusing Valley Personal Care Home.

During his first 20 years in Wyalusing, Tom served as Scoutmaster to Troop 8, something that he truly loved. Soon after his youngest son, Jim, received his Eagle Scout award, Tom decided to step aside. Within a short time, he learned of the Cub Scouts’ real need of leadership and then took on that role, which lasted until his resignation in 2001. At that time, he was surprised with a tribute in his honor held at the American Legion in Wyalusing. Many scouting families were in attendance and he was truly overwhelmed, especially seeing many of the young men who had become Eagle Scouts during his leadership years.

Tom served as a Borough Council member during the 70s. Also at this time, he became a charter member of the Wyalusing Lions Club, where he went on to serve for many years, as both president and treasurer. He was a former member of Wyalusing American Legion Post #534.

Tom enjoyed family and the outdoors. During the boys’ youth, camping was the main summer enjoyment. Later, when the four boys were no longer home, Tom and Pat purchased a sailboat which they kept on Seneca Lake in Watkins Glen, NY. Sailing was their passion, and they kept “Seneca Spirit” there for 20 years until Tom finally declared “it’s becoming more work than fun anymore.”

Tom loved being a grandfather and that was a good thing, since there are 13, including three “greats.”

Tom and Pat always looked forward to their getaway in Myrtle Beach, NC, each fall, and in recent years also went in the spring to meet with their son, Jim, and family there.